Brown’s Brewery — Yes They Can Can

Troy, New York is a small city just outside of Albany, which was once the largest brewing hub in America. Although we lost that title centuries ago to industry monsters like Anheuser-Busch and Coors, what we lack in quantity, we make up for in quality. Albany still boasts many great breweries, but Troy too has it’s own gems worth talking about.

Currently there is Rare Form Brewing Company, The Beer Diviner Taproom & Market, and probably the most notable, Brown’s Brewing Company.

Edged just outside of downtown Troy by route 7, Brown’s Brewery is a staple, if not the staple of Troy’s innovative food & brew scene. The first time I ever stepped foot in Brown’s was about 8 years ago on a field trip in high school. I had a questionable biker-chick teacher who took us off to beaten path just to take us there to eat on her own agenda, and it was incredible. As curious high school kids we roamed the depths of their in-house brewery and we even stumbled upon the merchandise stock room with the door open ajar. We each stole a t-shirt and I wore it loud and proud long before the day my lips were ever allowed to say the words, “I’ll take a beer.”

8 years later, my lips are in a full-blown relationship with beer and I am officially a Troy-Boy. That’s a self-prescribed title I gave myself for moving out of the suburbs and into the city of Troy. Although I have changed, the legacy and deliciousness of Brown’s has stayed as stagnant as the Uncle Sam plastered on the side of the building.

I frequent there often because I love their beer. I really do. It’s thick and flavorful and it’s made in-house. The most I ever push my flavored-beer boundaries is an occasional Blue Moon or a coffee stout. But for the most part I ride a clear line of light lagers and anything else that tastes good. But Brown’s Beer is…different.

My favorite beer is their Cherry Razz. It has a unique color and very nice flavor – more of cherry predominantly with raspberry notes. They even give you a cherry as a treat at the bottom and I shame anybody who doesn’t eat it at the end. SHAME. This drink is a 10/10 summer day drink because it doesn’t make you feel like you just drank a bunch of syrup 30 minutes post-consumption.

Anyways, I’m writing this not because Brown’s beer is news, it’s not news, but what is news is that they have converted from producing solely bottled products to cans as well. Cans are a big deal, and not just because they’re allowed at the Saratoga Race Track, but that does play a big role in my stance.

Brown’s is thrilled to provide its customers the best possible vessel to house not only its core styles, but its seasonal and speciality beers as well, offering more packaged beer varieties to consumers than ever before in its nearly 25 year history.

“Since 1993, I’ve said it’s all about the liquid. We don’t take shortcuts to produce award-winning beer and owe it to ourselves and our customers to deliver it in the freshest manner possible. That method of delivery is cans,” said Garry Brown, owner of Brown’s. He continues, “This revolutionary switch for us reflects our mission of constant innovation, and it gets more of our styles literally in the hands of our customers than ever before.”

The cans dropped March 1st, and are now available in store. Here’s what you’ll find:

Our flagship OATMEAL STOUT

5.25% ABV, 20 IBU

Sold in 6 packs, 12 packs

With conviction and inspiration, we’ve continually refined this defining brew into an even more approachable, easy to drink, rich, and silky smooth can of pure deliciousness. Little has changed, but with taking a deeper look at our brewing techniques, we have been able to get even more flavor from this beloved Brown’s classic.

Beloved CHERRY RAZZ

6.5% ABV, 15 IBU

Sold in 6 packs

Tart and sassy like its name, this Amber Ale features a generous amount of whole crushed cherries and raspberries balancing a sweet malt forward character and a slight hop zest. For a fervently dedicated fan base, this beer is an elegant tradition for many nights out. Easy to fall in love with, Cherry Razz is even easier to drink.

Coast-to-Coast IPA

6.25% ABV, 60 IBU

Sold in 6 packs

We’ve taken a classic, well-developed beer and make it even more enjoyable. Hoppy with just enough juiciness, this crushable India Pale Ale is the dream of those pioneering brewers who first over-hopped a beer to last the long sea voyage from England to India. About the name, Coast-to-Coast; during R&D we had hoppy assertive beers (West Coast) we brewed that we adored and juicier IPA’s (East Coast) like the Burst IPA that we’re also entirely crushable. So those of us IPA drinkers on staff put out a challenge to create a beer inspired by both flavors that meet somewhere in the center. This is a humble nod towards blending both those distinct translations of the style.

FIRST SEASONAL SMALL BATCH SERIES – Vienna Lager

4.6% ABV, 22 IBU

Sold in 12 packs

Our aim with this brewer’s classic is to create a beer full of subtle sweetness and rich hop notes for a crisp clean finish. Recalling the origin of this traditional Austrian style, Brown’s Vienna Lager is smooth, elegant, and very easy to drink.

All of these great beers and more are available on tap in our Troy and Walloomsac taprooms and at fine retailers, grocery stores, great beer bars, and restaurants in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. We have many more styles including Double Oatmeal Stout, Burst IPA, Double IPA, and Black Cherry Stout, all in 16 oz cans, and Kolsch, Brown Ale, and Uncommon Porter, all in 12 oz cans, in the works for 2017 – a huge year for Brown’s!

Catch me going two buttons deep or drop a line if you wanna link and drink.